Markus Andrews

Democracy “will prevail” to allow another vote on Scottish independence, Nicola Sturgeon will insist, as she urges Boris Johnson’s government to work “in the spirit of cooperation” on the country’s future.The SNP leader, who has previously said a mandate for a second vote was “beyond question”, will use her conference speech tomorrow to stress that “it is not up to the Westminster government” to decide on Scotland’s future.Last week, the SNP leader said the Scottish government would “restart” work on a plan for independence after it was put on hold by the Covid pandemic, saying she intended to deliver one before the end of 2023.However, Boris Johnson remains firmly opposed to a second vote and Alister Jack, the Scotland secretary, suggested last month that a referendum would be considered if opinion polls “consistently” showed 60 per cent of Scots wanted a new vote.“My approach to government and to politics will be, as far as possible, cooperation not confrontation,” Ms Sturgeon will say on Monday to mark the close of the SNP conference.“The experience of the pandemic and the challenges we face as a result reinforces my view that this is the right approach.“So it is that spirit of cooperation that I hope the Scottish and UK governments can reach agreement — as we did in 2014 — to allow the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland to be heard and respected.”She will add: “But, this much is clear. Democracy must — and will — prevail. Until recently no-one seriously challenged the right of the people of Scotland to choose whether or not they wished to become independent.“As an independent country, co-operation between Scotland and our friends across the rest of the UK will continue, but it will be on a better basis: Scotland will be an equal partner”.In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, the Scottish first minister also insisted she was “confident” the country would vote Yes in a second vote — but would only hold a referendum “when the time is right”.She added: “Ultimately, of course, as with many things in the life of government, it will be a matter of judgement and it’s important that I get that judgement right because I’m very, very serious and have been for 18 months, when I say the biggest responsibility, the most serious responsibility on my shoulders, is steering the country through the biggest health crisis in a century.”The SNP conference also backed the Scottish government plans for the timing of another independence referendum at the “earliest” possible moment after the Covid crisis. Party members endorsed that timescale, backing a motion by 535 votes to 10 which sets out plans for another vote “as soon as it is safe to hold a proper, detailed, serious national debate on independence”.Earlier, however, Ms Sturgeon faced criticism from her predecessor and former first minister Alex Salmond, who told Times Radio the lack of a second independence referendum had left the country in a “time loop”.Mr Salmond, who is now leader of the Alba Party, said: “Listeners and viewers will remember that Bill Murray film, Groundhog Day. The poor man was caught up in a time loop and it took him weeks to get out of it. “Unfortunately Nicola has placed Scotland in a referendum time loop and it’s taken six years and we’re making no progress whatsoever. Now the Bill Murray film was a comedy. This is tragedy. This is Groundhog Scotland, Groundhog referendum.”Mr Salmond, whose new party failed to win a single seat at the Holyrood elections in May, also criticised the new SNP/Green Party coalition’s record on education, health, the economy, local government – and the pandemic – as “at its very kindest mediocre”.“When the immediate cloud of the pandemic lifts they shall be judged on that and probably harshly. We must not have independence judged with it,” Mr Salmond told members gathered at the Alba Party’s conference. Mr Salmond, who appeared to contradict his own insistence that Alba members make their case “by talking up Alba not running down the SNP”, also announced plans to publish an alternative prospectus for Scottish independence.He cited the Wee Blue Book, written by Wings Over Scotland campaigner Stuart Campbell, as having “stood out as winning converts to the national cause” when support for independence rose by 15 per cent ahead of the first referendum.The “wee Alba book” will be sent to 100,000 homes ahead of the council elections next year, Mr Salmond said, adding that the party would have to fundraise to afford their publication.It came after Ms Sturgeon announced this week that the civil service would restart work on a prospectus for Scottish independence. More

Boris Johnson’s pledge to “level up” the country will “mean nothing” if the government presses ahead with plans to end the £20-per-week uplift to universal credit, union boss Frances O’Grady is set to warn.In a keynote speech to the Trade Union Congress (TUC) annual conference, the general secretary will highlight the looming cut amid growing discontent at Westminster, including from backbench Conservative MPs.It comes after Sajid Javid, the health secretary, reiterated on Sunday that the government plans to press ahead with removing the uplift, insisting it “will be ended as planned at the end of this month”.Just last week, reports suggested an internal Whitehall analysis showed there could be a “catastrophic” impact of removing the support, including rising homelessness, poverty and foodbank use.“Ministers tells us they are going to level up Britain,” Ms O’Grady will tell the TUC conference in London on Monday.“But levelling up means nothing if they freeze workers’ pay, slash universal credit, and the number of kids in poverty soars.”Insisting that Covid must be a “catalyst for real change”, she will say: “If levelling up means anything, it must mean levelling up living standards. We need an economy that treats everyone with dignity, that rewards hard work, that helps working families and communities thrive”.The TUC general secretary will also call on ministers to better prepare the country for future economic shocks, including the threat posed by the climate crisis, as she warns: “Covid is not going to be a one-off”.In her speech, she will highlight the dangers posed to workers through future pandemics, technological disruption and climate change, saying: “Looking ahead over the next five, ten, twenty years, it’s clear that economic shocks will grow and intensify in the UK and around the world”.She will add: “Covid is not going to be a one-off. Years of austerity took their toll. And meant we fought this pandemic with one hand tied behind our backs.”“The UK must be better prepared for crises in the future and they’re coming. Climate chaos is here already and the longer we put off getting to net zero, the more disruptive it will be.”“In an age of anxiety, working people are crying out for security. We must build an economy that can withstand the shocks – and help working families face the future with confidence.”After a spate of recent disruption to supply chains and stark warnings that food shortages in supermarkets and restaurants are “permanent”, Ms O’Grady will also demand better conditions for workers.The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) group has previous warned the labour shortages behind the gaps on shelves and restaurant ensues could last up to two years, without urgent government intervention.“Ministers may scratch their heads about how to protect supply chains and fill vacancies,” Ms O’Grady will say. “Well, here’s a novel idea – let’s make that industry deliver decent conditions, direct employment and a proper pay rise.” More

Sajid Javid has insisted he wants to “get rid” of Covid PCR tests for double-jabbed travellers, insisting the requirement should not be kept in place “for a second longer than absolutely necessary”.Following protests from the travel industry over the extra cost on families, Mr Javid said officials were examining the current policy mandating a day two laboratory test when returning to the UK from green and amber list countries.The health secretary’s comments came after reports suggested that the government was looking to scrap the PCR test requirement in time for the school half-term holiday next month to boost the tourism sector.According to the Mail on Sunday, the requirement will be replaced with a lateral flow test that can produce results within 30 minutes, amid concerns in government of “excessive pricing” among some firms offering PCR tests.Speaking on Sky News, Mr Javid said: “Of course we still want to remain very cautious and there are some things, when it comes to travel for example, there are some rules that are going to have to remain in place.“But the PCR tests that’s required on your return to the UK from certain countries, look I want to try and get rid of that as soon as I possibly can”.The cabinet minister added: “I’m not going to make a decision right now, but I’ve already asked the officials that the moment we can, let’s get rid of these kind of intrusions.“The cost that generates for families, particularly families just trying to go out and holiday, you know we shouldn’t be keeping anything like that in place for a second longer than is absolutely necessary”.Speaking on Friday, Mr Javid also hit out the “completely unacceptable” practices of some private companies “taking advantage of holidaymakers”, adding: “We are taking action to clamp down on cowboy behaviour”.Labour’s shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said at first sight the report that the government was looking to ditch the PCR requirement “looks like a reasonable approach”.“We’ll have to see what the proposal is when it comes before parliament. We have had some briefing into the newspapers today that certain elements of the Coronavirus Act will be taken off the statute book,” he told Sky News.“At first sight, based on the briefing, the clauses which are going to be taken off the statute book, that looks like a reasonable approach to me.“But obviously we’ll want to study the detail when it comes to parliament because there have been huge concerns about the way in which the Coronavirus Act has been misused by the authorities, and ridiculous fines have been imposed on people.” More

Sajid Javid has announced the government has dropped plans for domestic vaccine passports for use in nightclubs and other crowded venues in a dramatic u-turn — just days after No 10 defended the proposals.The health secretary revealed ministers “will not be going head with plans for vaccine passports” in what will be viewed as a concession to rebellious backbench Conservative MPs who have protested against the “discriminatory” plans.The cabinet minister also stressed that he was “not anticipating any more lockdowns” in England, but said it would be “irresponsible” to take any options off the table due to the uncertainty of the pandemic.His remarks come as Boris Johnson prepares to outline to the country how the government intends to manage the “challenges” presented by the pandemic in the autumn and winter months at a press conference this week.“There’s a lot of defences we need to keep in place because this virus hasn’t gone anywhere — there’s still a pandemic,” Mr Javid told the BBC.However, scrapping plans to introduce vaccine passports in England later this month for venues such as nightclubs, the cabinet minister said: “We just shouldn’t be doing things for the sake of it. It’s fair to say most people don’t instinctively like the idea. “We were right to properly look at it, to look at the evidence,” he added.“Whilst we should keep it in reserve as a potential option, I’m pleased to say that we will not be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports.”Just days ago, Downing Street defended the policy, however, saying the plans remained in place, with details due to be set out “in the coming weeks”. Sajid Javid ‘not anticipating any more lockdowns’ this winterAnd last Sunday, the vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi, said the passports would come into effect “by the end of September, when everyone has had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated, for the large venues that could end up causing a real spike in infections”.Mr Javid’s comments also came just moments after he said in a separate interview the government wanted to “avoid” using domestic vaccine passports, insisting no final decision had been made.“It has to be something that is absolutely, absolutely necessary with no alternatives,” he stressed on Sky News. “We have been looking at that, we’ve been open about that. Instinctively, I don’t like the idea at all of people having to present papers to do basic things.”Reacting to the plans, the human rights group Liberty said: “This is a victory for everyone who has stood against the [government’s] discriminatory vaccine passport scheme. We’ll be watching what happens next and examining the details to make sure our rights are safe”.Earlier this week, members of the Scottish Parliament, however, backed plans for vaccine passport scheme for nightclubs, major sporting and music events north of the border.The result of 68-55 votes in favour, will mean that from 1 October, only people who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be allowed into clubs and large-scale events such as concerts and festivals.On vaccinations for healthy 12 to 15-year-olds, Mr Javid also told Sky News: “We have been looking at that. I’m not in a position to make a final decision on it.“I have received advice a week or so ago from the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation), our committee of experts, their advice was that I should ask the chief medical officers of the UK, the four chief officers in the UK to take a look at not just the health aspects of vaccination, but whether there were any broader reasons that it might be in the welfare of children, and that’s what I’ve done and they need to be given the time to look at this, and I will wait to see what they have to say.”Asked when the chief medical officers will give their advice, Mr Javid said: “I’m not going to push them – they need to take their time. It’s independent advice, as it should be. They need to take their time.“I don’t think they will be taking that much longer, but in the meantime I have asked the department to work with schools, the school vaccination teams, to start preparing, just in case we have a situation where their advice is to recommend it, and then if the government accepts that then I just want to be able to go ahead with it.”Mr Javid said he will not “push” chief medical officers for their advice on vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds, but added he has asked for schools to start preparing. More

Labour has accused Priti Patel of breaking the ministerial code by facilitating a meeting between a Tory donor and British Airway (BA).The home secretary reportedly set up the meeting at a hotel in Heathrow Airport between Surinder Arora, a billionaire hotel magnate who has given money to Conservative MPs, and senior executives from BA.As well as Ms Patel, the business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng was also reportedly present, and both did not have any civil servants from their departments with them, as the rules dictate there should be for such meetings.Ms Patel was forced to stand down from her previous government post as international development secretary in 2017 after it emerged she had held private meetings with Israeli officials while on holiday without permission from the Foreign Office, which was deemed a breach of the ministerial code.Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner told the Sunday Mirror: “The home secretary is a serial offender with no regard for the ministerial code. It’s time the prime minister took away her get out of jail free card.“This secret lobbying lunch breaks the rules and she has serious questions to answer. She must be investigated by the cabinet secretary immediately.”Her shadow cabinet colleague Nick Thomas-Symonds also accused the home secretary of disregard for the code of conduct imposed on cabinet ministers“Priti Patel previously broke the ministerial code by bullying her civil servants,” he told the same newspaper.“The home secretary is so reckless about her duties it seems she takes part in meetings behind closed doors without an official present. As always with the Tories, the rules never apply to them.”The meeting between Mr Arora and BA came just weeks after the hotelier, who is reportedly worth about £1.1bn, said his hotel chain needed all the help it could get from the government because of the Covid pandemic. Most of Mr Arora’s hotels are based around airports.However, a government spokesperson said the meeting was not government business but a constituency matter as Mr Kwarteng’s constituency in Surrey borders Heathrow.The BA executive, Lisa Tremble, who joined the meeting has also denied there was any “hard lobbying” or “set agenda” and said it was just an “informal lunch”.This was echoed by Mr Arora, who insisted he did not do politics. “I’ve known Kwarsi and Priti for years,” he told the Sunday Mirror. “I said pop in and have lunch and see my new hotel. I don’t do politics. I don’t support anyone. There wasn’t any agenda.” More

Boris Johnson will this week set out the government’s plans for dealing with the challenges of Covid in the winter months and is expected to repeal specific measures contained in the powers passed by MPs.In his first coronavirus press conference since lifting the majority of legal restrictions on 19 July, the prime minister is expected to outline a blueprint for “managing” Covid amid fears of a further wave.It is expected to coincide with a final decision on booster jabs from the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination (JCVI) after interim advice from the body suggested planning for the most vulnerable to be offered jabs from late September.No 10 said it was difficult to predict with certainty what pressures will be placed on the NHS, with Covid circulating alongside flu, but warned: “The winter months will bring renewed challenges.”It comes amid reports the government could enforce the mandatory use of masks and once again advise people to work from home under contingency proposals if infections surge in the autumn months.But the traffic light system governing international travel will be scrapped, reports in the Mail on Sunday suggest, as well as the requirement for Britons returning from overseas to pay for expensive PCR Covid tests. There are also reports the government is set to unveil plans imminently to begin vaccinating 12-15 year-olds, with The Observer reporting schools have been warned to begin implementing a programme within weeks and perhaps as soon as 22 September.The decision comes as the chief medical officers in the UK are leading a review into whether a mass inoculation campaign would help children’s education; the Joint Council on Vaccination and Immunisation concluded the health benefits of vaccination for younger teenagers were minimal. Experts have warned that admissions to hospital related to Covid-19 are already increasing at an “alarming rate” — putting increased pressure on the NHS as it struggles to cope with demand for emergency care and millions waiting for treatment.According to the Daily Telegraph, however, Mr Johnson is “adamant” that a national lockdown will not be reimposed and Downing Street has denied it is considering a “firebreak” in October.In a statement ahead of unveiling his plan, the prime minister added: “Thanks to the efforts of the public, the NHS and our phenomenal vaccination programme, we reached Step 4 in our roadmap and life has returned to a sense of normality.“These extraordinary times required necessary but intrusive measures. But I’m determined to get rid of any powers we no longer need because of our vaccine defences. I will set out the next phase in our Covid response shortly.”Officials said the prime minister will commit to repealing some specific powers contained in the Coronavirus Act (2020) that are no longer “necessary”, including powers to detain potentially infectious persons and closing down sectors of the economy, or applying restrictions to events and gatherings.Vital elements will be retained, No 10 added, including providing sick pay for those isolating from day one rather than day seven, directing schools to remain open if they go against government guidance, and for people to isolate if they test positive.The Coronavirus Act did not pass parliament until 25 March 2020 – two days after the prime minister ordered England’s first national lockdown. Large swathes of the emergency powers used by ministers, including national restrictions, fall under the Public Health Act (1984), which is not expected to be altered.In a paper published earlier this year, the Institute for Government think tank, said: “The Public Health Act is the basis for most of the emergency powers that the government has used to respond to Covid-19.“The Public Health Act allows the appropriate minister to make provisions to prevent or control the spread of infection, including provisions to close schools, shops, restaurants and other premises, prohibiting or restricting events or gatherings, and limiting the activities of the public.” More

Greece’s economy will grow 5.9% during 2021, far more than the original 3.6% estimate, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Saturday.Mitsotakis gave the keynote address at the Thessaloniki International Fair, where heads of government traditionally announce the coming year’s economic policies.Mitsotakis noted that despite there are about 70,000 more people employed than before despite the pandemic; 46,000 additional businesses, and bank savings increased by 35 billion euros ($41 billion), of which 20 billion ($23 billion) were from additional household savings.The faster growth gave the prime minister the fiscal space to announce a range of tax reductions and spending targeted at young people, small businesses and the middle class. Small businesses are encouraged to merge with tax breaks and new entrants in the job market will be subsidized. There was even something for 15- to 17-year-olds who will be vaccinated, in the form of 50 gigabytes of free data for their smartphones. “Our announcements have one main goal: to increase households’ disposable income,” Mitsotakis said.The prime minister put special emphasis on climate change. “This tragedy of overheating will be avoided only if the planet reduces (carbon) emissions to zero by 2050,” he said, adding that his government will effect a swift transition away from the heavily polluting lignite, or brown coal, into renewable energy. To help with the transition and also to counteract rising electricity prices, the government will set aside a 150 million-euro ($177 million) fund to help consumers absorb the price rises. In addition, about 24 billion euros ($28 billion) will be invested in environmentally-friendly projects, with the help of EU funds.While Mitsotakis was touting the achievements of his government despite the pandemic emergency, around 3,500 people protested against vaccine mandates, especially for health workers, and other restrictions including the requirement for those who are not vaccinated to show coronavirus test results at certain places.The protesters clashed with riot police near the venue, throwing firebombs, firecrackers and stones at police, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades and gave chase to the protesters. The clashes lasted about an hour, and there were four arrests.There were also protest marches by unionists and the extreme left. Participants in the latter burned a U.S. and a European Union flag, as well as electricity bills, but there was no confrontation with police.Police put the total number of protesters at 21,000.——Demetris Nellas reported from Athens More

A Conservative minister has refused to apologise for swearing at the “Stop Brexit Man” during an altercation outside parliament.Nigel Adams, the MP for Selby and Ainsty in North Yorkshire and a junior minister in the Foreign Office, was accosted by Steve Bray, a famous anti-Brexit campaigner, on Wednesday as he left the House of Commons.When Mr Bray tried to draw Mr Adams into conversation about the new tax announced by the government to fund the NHS and social care, the MP said he “wasn’t interested in talking to an odd bloke with a top hat on chasing me down the street”, a reference to Mr Bray’s eccentric blue and yellow EU-inspired costume.When the Remainer persisted however, Mr Adams said: “Why don’t you talk to your MP and f**k off?”A video of the exchange, taken by a supporter of Mr Bray, was posted by the campaigner on Twitter later that day.But a spokesperson for the MP, who was first elected in 2010, said Mr Adams was unrepentant.”Mr Bray has spent the last few years harassing, following and hurling abuse at elected Parliamentarians as well as interrupting journalists, preventing some from doing their job of reporting the news and conducting interviews,” they said.”Mr Adams’ remarks no doubt reflect those of many democratic representatives trying to deliver on the will of the people and others seeking to go about their business who have been harassed or had their work disrupted by this individual and his handful of followers.”Mr Bray, a 52-year-old coin dealer from Wales, has become famous for his longstanding anti-Brexit one-man-protest in Parliament Square.Throughout the protracted Brexit Westminster drama from 2016, he continually interrupted TV interviews with politicians by bellowing “Stop Brexit” at the top of his voice and waving larger and larger placards in the background. In the video with Mr Adams, he reacts with incredulity and outrage after the minister tells him to “f**k off” and of “getting on my nerves”.“Oh ok, this is a very nice MP,” Mr Bray says, before accusing the MP of having too much to drink. “Yet you can tell me to f**k off in the street?”“I’m annoying because I want to hold you to account, and you don’t like it. Hang on a minute, I’m a citizen of this country. We elect people like you, so we’re going to hold you to account.”Later, Mr Bray denied he harassed MPs and was simply trying to quiz them about their policies and votes in parliament.”You should be able to ask an MP a question without being told where to go,” he told BBC Radio York.”This is at Parliament, it’s not as if I’m on his doorstep at his house, this is the seat of power – if you write to these MPs, half of them don’t reply.”I don’t harass MPs, I ask them questions and I like to think I’m speaking for other people who can’t be there to ask those questions.” More